Suggestions On New Computer?

[Mujuro]

Hey All,

I'm purchasing a new computer and my budget is $1200 and this is what I've compiled so far. I plan on overclocking the 3200+. Any suggestions on the build would be appreciated.

Case - $99.00
Lian Li PC-61 USB Black Aluminum ATX Mid-Tower Computer Case
Model: PC-61 USB

Power Supply - $123.50
Enermax EG651P-VE FM(24P) 550W Power Supply
Model: EG651P-VE FM(24P)

Motherboard - $132.00
MSI K8N Neo4 Platinum Socket 939 NVIDIA nForce4 Ultra ATX AMD Motherboard
Model: K8N Neo4 Platinum

Processor - $190.00
AMD Athlon 64 3200+ Venice Integrated Into Chip FSB Socket 939 Processor
Model: ADA3200BPBOX

Memory - $106.25
OCZ Value Series 1GB (2 x 512MB) 184-Pin DDR SDRAM Dual Channel Kit System Memory
Model: OCZ4001024WV3DC-K

CD-ROM/DVD-ROM Drive - $45.99
NEC Black IDE DVD Burner
Model: ND-3520A BK

Floppy Drive - $8.49
NEC Black 1.44MB 3.5" Internal Floppy Drive Windows 98SE/ME/2000/XP
Model: FD1231H-302

Hard Drive - $81.00
Seagate Barracuda 7200.7 ST3120026A 120GB 7200 RPM IDE Ultra ATA100 Hard Drive
Model: ST3120026A

Video Card - $345.00
eVGA GeForce 6800GT 256MB 256-bit GDDR3 PCI Express x16 Video Card
Model: 256-P2-N376-AX

Sound Card - $58.00
CREATIVE Sound Blaster Audigy2 ZS Sound Card
Model: 70SB035000000

 

[sinkoman]

I'd say ditch the sound card, and spend the extra money for a 3500, even if it isn't venice.

 

[tranCendenZ]

I like the soundcard + 3200+ OC'd better than a 3500+

Also, all around good choices, but why not go for a Seagate SATA hard drive?

 

[Ti133700N]

I 100% agree with tranCendenZ

 

[DrDevin]

I say wait for the creative XFI (as opposed to buying a soundcard now) and you probably want more RAM (2GB) if not only get 1 stick of 1GB and then wait until you have enough for more. Dont limit yourself now when 1 GB is almost manditory. Also you can probably find a good power supply for less money.

 

[Kyorisu]

Gah too many Nvidia fans.

My only problem with that build other than the vid card is the HDD. 120GB simply isn't enough in today's world. Heck I'm buying another 160GB drive this coming monday.

 

[Mujuro]

I like both brands. I only like Nvidia more due to the fact it has better driver support and includes Pixel Shader 3.0, which ATI card don't. If it weren't for either, I'd probably go for ATI. As for the HDD, I don't even need 120GB. I currently have a 40GB HDD and I haven't even use 3/4 of it since I got it. I always uninstall unnecessary programs and games I have beaten, so 120GB is more than enough for me. Anyway, I changed a few things. I went from eVGA to XFX as it's $50 cheaper and has the same specifications, as well as benchmark results. It only runs a little hotter.

Case - $99.00
Lian Li PC-61 USB Black Aluminum ATX Mid-Tower Computer Case
Model: PC-61 USB

Power Supply - $83.00
OCZ ModStream 450W Power Supply
Model: OCZ45012U

Motherboard - $132.00
MSI K8N Neo4 Platinum Socket 939 NVIDIA nForce4 Ultra ATX AMD Motherboard
Model: K8N Neo4 Platinum

Processor - $267.00
AMD Athlon 64 3500+ Venice 1GHz FSB Socket 939 Processor
Model: ADA3500BPBOX

Memory - $106.25
OCZ Value Series 1GB (2 x 512MB) 184-Pin DDR SDRAM Dual Channel Kit System Memory
Model: OCZ4001024WV3DC-K

CD-ROM/DVD-ROM Drive - $48.00
NEC Black IDE DVD Burner Model ND-3540A
Model: ND-3540A

Floppy Drive - $8.49
NEC Black 1.44MB 3.5" Internal Floppy Drive Windows 98SE/ME/2000/XP
Model: FD1231H-302

Hard Drive - $80.00
Seagate Barracuda 7200.7 ST3120026A 120GB 7200 RPM IDE Ultra ATA100 Hard Drive
Model: ST3120026A

Video Card - $299.00
XFX GeForce 6800GT 256MB 256-bit GDDR3 PCI Express x16 Video Card
Model: PVT45GUDF3

Sound Card - $58.00
Creative Sound Blaster Audigy2 ZS Sound Card
Model: 70SB035000000

 

[sinkoman]

I say wait for the creative XFI (as opposed to buying a soundcard now) and you probably want more RAM (2GB) if not only get 1 stick of 1GB and then wait until you have enough for more. Dont limit yourself now when 1 GB is almost manditory. Also you can probably find a good power supply for less money.

I hope you understand that 2 gigs of ram will actually reduce game performance.

But anyway, I say stay with your hdd. I'm using a 36 gig raptor and an old 80 gig caviar on my pc. I've never filled the caviar in my entire life, even when it was still in my HP.

 

[DrDevin]

I hope you understand that 2 gigs of ram will actually reduce game performance.

But anyway, I say stay with your hdd. I'm using a 36 gig raptor and an old 80 gig caviar on my pc. I've never filled the caviar in my entire life, even when it was still in my HP.

It will reduce performance in old games but anything recent will see a large benefit:

Battlefield 2:
The power users who want to get a really full experience and turn every knob and dial to the top....need a couple of gigs of RAM" - Scott Evans, Producer of BF2

http://forums.anandtech.com/message...eyword=&STARTPAGE=3&FTVAR_FORUMVIEWTMP=Linear

Half Life 2:
Naturally, all this eye candy comes at a price, but Valve are still figuring out where exactly the recommended specification lies for Lost Coast. When pushed, Lombardi revealed that while the CPU requirements may be relatively low at 2.0 to 3.0Ghz, the hunger for RAM borders on the guttenous at 1Gb to 2Gb, though he stresses that these figures are still to be finalised.

Naturally, the more the better, but considering most gamers have 512MB of RAM, and even enthusiasts somehow make do with "only" 1GB, the suggestion that Lost Coast could need as much as two gigabytes of RAM to run HDR optimally may mean that most of the gaming public won't see the full performance for a while yet.

http://www.bit-tech.net/gaming/2005/06/14/hl2_hdr_overview/4.html

Everquest 2 (and any MMORPG)
I have 2GB of RAM in the MMOG PC and even then I see virtual RAM being accessed quite reguarly.

http://www.viaarena.com/default.aspx?PageID=5&ArticleID=392&P=1

Far Cry:
RAM: 2GB

http://forums.gamespot.com/gamespot/show_messages.php?board=371314&topic=20617178&page=3

If you were talking about some quake3 powered game you would be right but 2GB is starting to be manditory for high setting in games with 1GB being minimum.